It’s our favorite time of the year — Ingathering Season!
As groups and congregations prepare to share the handicrafts of your love with our neighbors, we’ve got resources, tips and tricks for BEFORE, DURING and ALL THE POINTS IN BETWEEN to make it your best Ingathering season ever!
BEFORE
1. MEET THE REQUIREMENTS
Quilts have THREE:
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A finished size of 60” x 80”
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Sturdy
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Warm
Kits have TWO:
- All kits must contain ONLY and ALL items listed.
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New items only, except where otherwise noted.
For general assembly instructions, go to lwr.org/quilts or lwr.org/kits.
2. REMEMBER THE RESTRICTIONS
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NO FLEECE in QUILTS or ANY KITS. We will accept other fabrics that include microfiber.
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NO RELIGIOUS or PATRIOTIC SYMBOLS, LANGUAGE or MESSAGES.
3. PACK PROPERLY
- Tightly pack completed quilts and kits SEPARATELY in medium-size sturdy boxes, not to exceed 40 lbs. Secure with packing tape and create your own label OR write on your boxes in LARGE, BLOCK LETTERS (example below).
4. TRACKING YOUR BOXES
Meet Lydia: your new quilt and kit tracking tool! This quick, simple, stress-free online system lets you pre-register your boxes and follow them all the way to their destination. If you can use a computer, tablet or smartphone, you’re ready to go! Get started today at lwr.org/tracker.
5. PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE!
While many of you do your promotion of your Ingathering(s), we now have LWR INGATHERING FLIERS for the rest of you! These downloadable fliers cover various geographic locations. Just print and display, share via mail and/or e-mail to fellow quilter and kit-maker friends and with congregations near you!
These fliers include answers to your questions such as...
- Where is my nearest Ingathering?
- How do I pack and label my quilts and kits?
- What items do you accept at Ingatherings?
DURING
6. FIND AN INGATHERING
Visit the Ingathering Map to find one near you as well as details on drop-off.
7. OR A WAREHOUSE...
You can drop or ship your items to our processing warehouse:
Lutheran World Relief
398 East Richmond Street
South St. Paul, MN 55075
651.457.9009 – call for appointment
Or our new drop-site warehouse:
Mission Central
5 Pleasant View Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
717.766.1533 – call for appointment
ANYTIME
8. CONTRIBUTE TO THE QUILT & KIT SHIPPING FUND
We are all truly connected in this journey, from the first stitch of a quilt to the grateful hands that receive them. The Quilt & Kit Shipping Fund is an excellent way to support the journey and to get your congregations involved. You can also honor or recognize a loved one through our Good Samaritan Quilt Plaza and become part of the “Many Trips Around the World” quilt pattern in Baltimore. Get more information and donate online here.
9. REACH OUT
The Quilt & Kit Ministry Team is always here for you. Contact us a @email any time!
10. SHARE YOUR STORIES!
Have you joined our LWR Quilters & Kit Makers Community on Facebook yet? It's the perfect place for sharing stories and photos of your Ingathering(s) and connecting with fellow Quilters and Kit Makers. We may even feature your group!
11. CELEBRATE!
We certainly are celebrating you! You are the heartbeat of this ministry, and we are so grateful for the compassion and love you put into every quilt and kit. THANK YOU!
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